Reflections on the Teche

Slice of Life: First Musical

July 22, 2025 by margaretsmn

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

Have you seen Matilda, the Musical? I’ll take any excuse to see a musical. Our local performing arts league, IPAL, does a musical every summer with kids under the age of 18. I am always impressed with the skills of these young people and their directors. Matilda was no exception.

Last summer I took Leo to Beauty and the Beast. We weren’t sure how he would like it, but he sat in his seat mesmerized for the whole play. We took a picture with Gaston.

Leo, age 5, with Gaston from Beauty and the Beast (IPAL, 2024)

This year Leo is 6, which means he’s all grown up and knows about musicals.

Sister Stella is four. So it was a long shot to try to take her to the show. My daughter decided to go with us because two kids are harder than one.

Stella was not as mesmerized as Leo. She asked a lot of questions.

“Why is Miss Trunchbull a boy?!”

I explained the beauty of theater is that boys can be girls and girls can be boys.

Stella also had a little trouble suspending belief.

“Her father is so mean!”

“He’s just pretending, remember?”

Leo and Stella both enjoyed the time called “Intermission” when they could get treats.

While Stella lost her patience about a half hour before the play was over, “Is it over yet?”, she can’t wait to go to another musical.

Posted in being mamére, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #beingmamére, IPAL, musical, theater | 15 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Tiny Letters

July 18, 2025 by margaretsmn

Today’s roundup is hosted by Jan Annino at Bookseedstudio.

My well has been running dry lately. I could use the excuses that I’ve had a lot on my plate, but the real answer is I haven’t felt much like writing.

When I get this way, it helps to turn to poetry prompts. Georgia Heard sent out a monthly newsletter with a calendar inviting us to write daily tiny letters.

Today, to make myself accountable, I will share two of them from my notebook.

Dear Breath,
Find my sorrow.
Lift it up.
Draw from within
a purple flower
a single petal
remembering
how to bloom.

Margaret Simon, draft

My butterfly garden is overflowing with passion vine waiting for the Gulf Fritilary butterflies.

Dear Voice,
From your hiding place,
come home.
Give me strength
to know when to say no,
when to say yes.
Be there as a guide
when silence
grates on my nerves
like the rain
clanking through the drain.
Wake up, oh voice of mind.
Find my comfort zone.
Come home.

Margaret Simon, draft

If you are not familiar with poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, I have found her poems uplifting and accessible. I signed up for a poetry class with her that begins next week. I am hopeful she will put me back in touch with my own voice. She has released an album of spoken word. This amazing and uplifting poem is included. Take a moment to listen.

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, Georgia Heard, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, tiny letters | 15 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Fingers and Toes

July 16, 2025 by margaretsmn

Baby Sam’s fingers holding Mamére’s finger.

This week’s photos may be a bit selfish on my part. I hope you can find a way into writing from your own life. Leave a poem in the comments and respond to other writers.

Two weeks ago my youngest daughter gave birth to my youngest grandchild, Sam. He is absolutely perfect. I marveled at him for days. All his tiny parts, especially his long fingers and his tiny toes. Two of his toes are webbed.

I can’t really write anything that isn’t sappy, but never mind, just dig right in to it. Grandmothers are made to be sappy.

Perfection Is

Ten fingers
ten toes
that treasure your gentle touch.

Fingernails
tiny and sharp—
His simple signature.

Two hands
two feet
fill a heart with love.

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in being mamére, Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged #beingmamére, #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, newborn, This Photo Wants to be a Poem | 3 Comments »

Slice of Life: Saints Marching In and Out

July 15, 2025 by margaretsmn

Twelve days ago, this beautiful boy came into my world. Wrapped in the stitches I crocheted for him, he sleeps. While he sleeps, I breathe his newness and want to hold onto that feeling that all is well with the world.

Six days ago my mother, Sam’s great grandmother, died. She slipped out of this world that had been her home into a new one, where we will all be someday. I like to think it’s a better place, a warm welcoming embrace.

I got a phone call message from my aunt, Alabel. She was once married to my mother’s brother, and she has remained a part of our family. Her message said, “I have been so privileged to be a part of your family. I’m glad your mother is now free and happy and seeing Johnny (my father)…I hear you have a new grandchild. That’s how it works, the saints are leaving and the saints are coming.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Posted in being mamére, Gratitude, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #beingmamére, mothers, saints | 10 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Letter to the Wind

July 2, 2025 by margaretsmn

I subscribe to Georgia Heard’s newsletter. For the month of July, she invites us to write tiny letters. For July 2nd, the prompt is “Write a letter to the wind.” For the complete calendar, try this link.

I asked Molly Hogan, fellow Inkling who blogs at Nix the Comfort Zone, for a photo for this week. Molly is an amazing nature photographer who lives in Maine. She sent me a few to choose from, and I felt this one lended itself well to a letter to the wind.

Please share your small poems in the comments and support other writers with encouraging comments.

Here is my “quick write” letter to the wind:

Dear Wind,

Whatever the season,
you show up
soothe our suffering,
cuddle tree branches,
wrapping us up in your dreams.
Be kind to us, wind, we are struggling
through climate change,
through terrific
thunder storms. You give us breath,
breath of life,
breath of death.
Tend our tender hearts,
breath of daisy,
breath of desire.
Dear wind.

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, epistolary poetry, Georgia Heard, letter poems | 9 Comments »

Slice of Life: Summer Walk

July 1, 2025 by margaretsmn

I am spending some time in New Orleans with my daughters and grandchildren. Soon a new grandson will be here. But in the meantime, I took a walk in the neighborhood. A city walk is different from my small hometown walk, so I took some pictures to set the scene. (Don’t forget to add 80+ temps and 60% humidity to your imagination.)

We took grandson Thomas to City Park and walked around the gardens.

Thomas, 5, looks for turtles in the pond.

My One Little Word for 2025 is Still. Even in the midst of city traffic and busyness, a moment of stillness can be found.

City Park Haiku

Turtles sun-basking
While heat rises from old stone
Bridges to stillness

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in being mamére, Photography, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, haiku, New Orleans City Park | 9 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Raccontino

June 27, 2025 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday is gathered today by Tanita at {fiction, instead of lies}

This month’s Poetry Sisters challenge was to write a poem form called a raccontino, a poem of any number of couplets in which the odd-numbered lines (along with the title) tell a story. Even-numbered lines rhyme. This was a totally new form to me, so I looked for inspiration in an obituary, of all things. I liked how the woman was described as leaving a legacy of kindness. Who among us would not want to leave that kind of legacy?

She Leaves
laughter and abiding love, a
generous spirit echoing silly songs.

Her family holds her legacy.
When every heart longs

to be of some use, of
a place she belongs,

there is only kindness
that lasts, healing all wrongs.

Margaret Simon, draft

Photo by Javon Swaby on Pexels.com

Posted in Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged #Poetrypals, #poetrysisters, kindness, raccontino | 13 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Summer Storms

June 25, 2025 by margaretsmn

This summer we have had lots of quick forming storms that dump rain. If you think about it, they’re nice because they water the flowers. They also help with high temperatures. The other side of the coin is you can get caught without an umbrella and get totally soaked. They also create violent lightning that may take out a smoke detector. (That happened in our house.)

Poetically speaking, however, the summer sun peeking out from a storm cloud is inspiring. Today, write a small poem that ponders summer storms. Please write in the comments and encourage other writers with your responses.

Summer Storm Shadorma

Like sea waves
cool my burning toes,
you pour out
suddenly
soaking me, summer shower,
holy water veil.

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Photography, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Writing | Tagged shadorma | 8 Comments »

Slice of Life: What is Normal?

June 24, 2025 by margaretsmn

This past weekend was the Open Write at Ethical ELA. I am trying to write a poem every day, but it sure helps to have a good prompt. On Sunday, Tammi Belko led us to write in response to the question “What is normal?” You can see her full prompt here.

I was spending the morning with two of my grandchildren. As I sat with my tablet and notebook pondering her prompt, my grands Leo and Stella were drawing. Leo, age 6, has always loved drawing. Now he is old enough to add words to his drawings. Stella, his sister age 4, is following in his footsteps. Her drawings tell stories.

“The monster was walking in the forest. In the ocean, the whale was splashing.” By Stella

Kid-Time Normal

All they need
is a marker
and paper—
Imagination soars…
Dinosaurs
with super powers,
Bad guys
with two robot arms,
Magical crystal charms…
Transformed
Transfixed
Time stops
on paper.

Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged #beingmamére, #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, Ethical ELA, Tammi Belko | 9 Comments »

This Photo Wants to be a Poem: Summer Farmers Market

June 18, 2025 by margaretsmn

My brother lives in Madison, MS, north of Jackson. My sister and I have been visiting. Yesterday he performed at the weekly farmers market. The theme was New Orleans, so he had a sax player join him, and they played New Orleans jazz tunes along with some favorites.

The afternoon had been the setting of a pop-up storm, but as soon as Hunter sang “When the Saints Go Marching In”, the sky opened up and “the sun began to shine.” My sister bought a box of fresh blueberries for us to enjoy for breakfast today.

What does a summer farmers market conjure for you? Please write a small poem in the comments and come back to support other writers with encouragement.

I am writing a nonet today, a form in which the syllable count goes up from 1-9.

Come
enjoy
Jazz and juice,
plump blueberries,
tomatoes, peaches,
kids jumping for bubbles,
ice cream pops and cookie cake.
Fill your shopping bag with sunlight.
Take home golden garden groceries. 
Margaret Simon, draft

Posted in Photography, Poetry, This Photo Wants to be a Poem, Travel, Writing | Tagged #poemsofpresence, #smallpoems, Madison Farmers Market, nonet | 9 Comments »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »